Latest Area News Headlines

SLAYTON – The Murray County Medical Center has hired a new CEO, although officially the position is now being offered through Sanford and not the medical center. Dennis Goebel has accepted the position and is scheduled to start Feb. 2, 2015. He is currently the CEO and Administrator of St. Luke’s Home and Park Avenue Villa, a nursing home and assisted living facility in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Goebel is from the town of Williston, North Dakota. His previous employment includes running a hospital, nursing home and clinic in Bowman and working for St. Alexius in Bismarck for nine...

LUVERNE – A Rock County Deputy shot a suspect Thursday evening after a high speed pursuit, wounding 19-year-old Ryan Joseph Krueger. Krueger was treated and released from the Sanford Luverne Emergency Room and is currently in custody in the Nobles County Jail.

According to a state issued by Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, the deputy has been put on administrative leave pending results of an investigation into the discharge of his firearm, which is standard protocol.

The incident took place at approximately 8:30 p.m., when the Rock County Sheriff’s Office assisted the...

LUVERNE - At approximately 8:30 pm Thursday, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Adrian Police Department with a high speed pursuit that ended in Rock County with an officer involved shooting. The driver, Ryan Joseph Krueger, age 19 of Luverne received non-life threatening injuries in the incident. Krueger was treated and released from the Sanford ER and is in custody pending Felony Fleeing and Assault charges.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is conducting the investigation into the incident which is ongoing. The deputy will be placed on administrative...

WORTHINGTON – The Young Professionals will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Historic Dayton House to explore and learn about the house while networking and getting to know each other. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and have a chance to win Chamber Checks by attending this informational and exciting event.

WORTHINGTON — The Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District met earlier this week to discuss plans for 2015, which include projects to make the organization more visible in the community and increase communication between the district and local governmental bodies.

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday evening conducted the annual Truth in Taxation meeting, presenting to the public the budget and levy information for the upcoming year.

The commissioners set a not-to-exceed levy of 7.6 percent in September and have whittled that down further, presenting a 2015 budget that calls for a 5.98 percent levy increase over 2014, with an overall levy of $12,096,602. Proposed expenses for 2015 are estimated at $26.9 million, with revenues projected at more than $14.8 million.

SLAYTON – Glenn “Corky” Kluis was sworn in Tuesday morning as the District 4 Murray County Commissioner to fill the vacancy created when Chairman John Giese died November 16. Kluis had been elected to the position in November and would have taken office in January.

A public hearing was held at 8 a.m. for consideration of the appointment of Kluis, with notification of the hearing sent to officials of the city of Slayton, which is within District 4. None were present for the hearing. Several of the other commissioners did have comments, including Commissioner Gerald Magnus, who had...

WORTHINGTON – Customers of Worthington Public Utilities are going to see an increase in their electric rates for 2015, something the WPU has been talking about for the latter part of this year as unavoidable. The 2015 electric department budget was unanimously approved during Monday’s Worthington Public Utilities Water and Light Commission meeting.

On average, residents will see a 9 to 11 percent increase. Commercial businesses will see a 6 to 10 percent hike and industrial businesses a 6 to 8 percent increase, depending on how much electricity is used.

ADRIAN - The Todd and Lonna Heideman family of Adrian are the focus of a video through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety designed to remind people to teach their children not to play with fire. The video, which was released on a limited basis last week, was released publicly today.

The Heideman’s lost their 10-year old daughter Perri in April when she was killed during a hay bale fire that it is believed she caused while playing with fire.

In the video, which is available on Youtube under the title “From Heartbreak to Helping: Family Hopes Perri’s Story Saves Lives,”...

WORTHINGTON – Now that Thanksgiving is a turkey-scented memory, all thoughts have turned to candy canes, wreaths and Santa. Which means it is time to look forward to the 26th annual Old Fashioned Christmas at Pioneer Village on Thursday and Friday, with activities each night from 5 to 9 p.m.

Santa Claus will be there each evening. Hayrides and entertainment are included, and food and other goods are available on site for purchase. Free bus rides, courtesy of Reading Bus Lines, depart at 6:45 p.m. from outside the village gates each night to view the Christmas lights in Worthington...

WORTHINGTON — All federal, state, county and city offices in Worthington will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving Day. All Worthington financial institutions will be closed Thursday, but will reopen for regular business on Friday. The Worthington Post Office will be closed Thursday, and there will be no mail delivery. Regular hours will resume Friday.

The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce Office will be closed both Thursday and Friday. The Nobles County Library will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday and will be closed Saturday for maintenance.